Single quotes (‘), as opposed to double quotes (“), are used for quotes inside of quotes and nothing else. Do not use single quotes to emphasize text (do not use double quotes either); use italics or bold for emphasis.

It is often necessary to use other types of punctuation along with quotation marks: commas, periods, colons, semicolons, question marks, and exclamation points. So which comes first, the quotation marks or the other punctuation? Well, it depends….

Here are the rules:

1. Periods and commas ALWAYS go inside the quotation marks. ALWAYS.

Examples:

“Make sure you pack your summer clothes,” Mom said.

Mom said, “Make sure you pack your summer clothes.”

She said, “My favorite song is ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow.'” (Yes, even when there are three quotation marks, one belonging to the song title and the other two belonging to the whole quote. The period or comma is inside all three quotation marks.)

2. Semicolons and colons ALWAYS go outside the quotation marks.

Example:

She said, “I don’t know what to do”; he answered “I don’t know what to do either.”

It is probably never necessary to use colons and semicolons with quotations marks, so I wouldn’t worry about this one.

3. Question marks and exclamation points …. WELL, IT DEPENDS. These can go either way,

If the question mark or exclamation point belongs to just what is in the quotes, it goes inside the quotes.

If the question mark or exclamation point belongs to the entire sentence, it goes outside the quotes.

If the question mark or exclamation point belongs to both, it goes inside the quotes. Just use one.

Examples:

He said, “Who are you?” (The question mark belongs to the quote only and it goes inside.)

Did he say, “I am John”? (The whole sentence is a question, but the quote itself isn’t. The quote goes outside.)

Did he ask, “Who are you?” (The quote is a question, and the whole sentence is also a question. Don’t use two question marks. Use only one, and place it inside the quotation marks.)

Exclamation points are treated exactly the same as question marks.

He screamed, “Help me!” (Quote itself is the exclamation, so the mark goes inside the quotes.)

He had the nerve to say to me,”You are an idiot”! (The whole sentence is exclamation, but the quoted part really isn’t . Mark goes outside.)

I freaked out when he screamed, “You are on fire!” (Both the quoted portion and the whole sentence are exclamations. Use one mark and put it inside.)

Please refrain from using question marks and exclamation points together.

He screamed, “Do you know the way?” ( You don’t need an exclamation point after the quotes. It already says he screamed.)

Thanks! I am doing another five-session workshop at College of Marin beginning in mid September on Thursday evenings — and a short little workshop at the Sonoma County Book Festival at the JC on September 21 — or is it 22nd? That Saturday, whatever it is.

I have never, that I can remember, had to use a colon or semicolon with quotations marks. I think I would rewrite in that case. However they apparently always go after the quotes Question marks can go either before or after, depending upon the sentence.

Many times we talk about grammar in terms of writing. This blog post is about speaking. We don’t need to worry about punctuation when we speak, but we do have to worry about grammar—and pronunciation (which we don’t have to worry about when we write).

A while ago, one of my readers asked me to write a post about my life as a self-publisher. However, before I became a self-publisher (or “indie” publisher, as we like to call it), I was a writer for a very long time. I think most people who write have been writing for most of their lives.